I never thought of myself as dad material. Until my one-night stand showed up in my small Alaskan town five months pregnant. But I don’t shy away from responsibility. First, because I’m a Greene, and not to boast, but we’re kind of a big deal in Sunrise Bay. Second, I’m the sheriff.

I broke the cardinal rule and slept with my sister’s best friend. Granted, I’d just found out that I was now a single father to a three-year-old little girl and was low on willpower. It should also be noted that there’s been sexual tension between us for years. There’s no way it would be a surprise if anyone in our small town found out. That is if we were telling people, which we’re not.

Turn-ons: party girls. Platinum blondes. Zero expectations. I used to think if you could combine all three into one female, you'd have the perfect woman. Then why the hell does Ava Pearson - an outdoorsy girl, a brunette, and a woman who screams stability and responsibility - seem to be the only woman on my mind lately? It's the cupcakes. It's gotta be the cupcakes she bakes that keep me coming back for more. After all, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, right? Did I forget to mention she's my buddy's daughter?

Being the heir to Jacobs Enterprises, I’ve been around fake people my entire life. I promised myself a long time ago that I wouldn’t change for anyone. Which is the only reason I’m a professional hockey player who lives on the beach and does as he pleases without answering to anyone - except my father.

I can’t borrow him. He’s not a sweater or a skirt. He’s not even her favorite dress - the lucky one she wears on first dates. The one she probably wore on her first date with him. In my defense, I didn’t know who he was. To me, he was a cool, calm, confident stranger. He was perfection for the entire hour-and-a-half train ride, while the concrete jungle turned into a rolling green landscape.